I hadn’t realized until typing this post that I’ve reached a milestone on this blog.
Yesterday I completed 100 posts and it seems only fitting in view of the honor bestowed upon me by the Authentic Blogger Group (I promise this is the last time I’ll gloat), that I offer some basic tips to create, and maintain, a well-read blog.
1. Generate good content – There is nothing more powerful than original, good content. The quality of your writing or photography has to be top notch. Basic things like not making grammatical mistakes or not posting low resolution photos aside, your blog should compel people to want to come back over and over.
Sometimes your blog post could just be a series of links to other items online — even so, choose that content wisely. A lot of you may not be professional writers or photographers, but you can still think of your blog space as a platform to showcase your passion.
Here are some examples of top quality blogs that I keep going back to. As you’ll see they’re very different from each other, but have one thing in common — quality content:
– Indexed
2. Be true to yourself – No matter what the subject of your posts, remember to be authentic. Find your voice and let it sing. As a writer I always look for ways to improve my writing skills, but try as I might I cannot use big words and dense imagery. It feels forced. I have realized my style is more conversational…that’s what brings the best out of me. And I am sticking to it.
Try out a few styles…maybe there’s a poet in you, or a philosopher, or perhaps you’re good at reporting hard facts. The more you write, the better defined your writing style will become. Be in your own skin and let it flow. When you’re genuine, your readers will see it, too.
3. Have a clear purpose — Even if your blog is cluttered with miscellaneous thoughts and ideas, like mine is, know that it is so. And communicate it clearly to your readers. They should know what to expect when they visit your blog.
Is it about technology? Or parenting? Or is it editorial-style opinion mongering on daily events? Is it a socio-political commentary? Is it a collection of limericks? Is it photo blogging? Whatever it may be, define it at the outset. I have found that you can keep it loose but having a general outline helps. Sometimes the purpose is to surprise your readers…and that’s fine, too.
4. Post regularly – You may write or take pictures daily or weekly or sporadically whenever inspiration strikes you, but remember to post with some regularity. I have been told by some readers that they read my blog first thing in the morning with a cup of tea or while sipping wine late in the evening…I have made a routine of writing daily and, in turn, my blog has become part of some readers’ routine. It warms my heart.
Besides, the whole point of having a blog is to make a commitment – to yourself – so, go ahead, block some time off on your calendars.
5. Be part of a community (or more) — Before I jumped head first into blogging, I had no idea there were so many communities focused solely on supporting folks in blogosphere. Now I’m part of Blogadda, Bloggers Paradise, Indiblogger, Authentic Blogger, Get Your Blog Followers, Writers Rising, She Writes, The Sits Girls, Networked Blogs, and Blog Frog.
Every community provides rich fodder for my blog while also allowing me to interact with, and learn from, my peers.
Blog communities, especially the active ones, nurture and nourish individuals. Find one that appeals to you, be an active member, get engaged, and you’ll soon discover hidden gems.
For me, blogging is a shared experience … it’s not just my talking head spewing thoughts from a computer screen. It’s about having a dialogue. Keeping the discussion moving forward. Learning and growing every day.
Thank you for letting me into your lives and I appreciate you being part of mine.
Drop me a line if you’d like to add to this 101st post.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia
You might also enjoy:
Congratulations on the milestone
Very well written and I agree with you on all the points.
Thanks, Shachi. One down…Many more milestones to be reached
Congratulations Mansi. First, for the lovely content you share, second, for the style, third, for the nice layout
and
finally for posting regularly. I don’t comment or read yours regularly but I always do stop and read the ones that I have missed.
Wishing you many posts in the years to come.
Joy always,
Susan
Thanks, Susan. I always appreciate your visits.
Mansi,
I came over from Authentic Blogger on FB, nice to meet you. I think all of your points are very valid. My blog sees a fairly consistent viewership all week with a definate spike in the Wednesday-Thursday and a smaller spike on the weekends. I don’t know if that’s typical of most blogs but it has allowed me to be a little more selective with the posts I think we make the biggest imapcts and when I will schedule certain posts to ‘go live’.
Thanks for the insight,
Darren Sproat
Welcome, Darren, and thank you for your thoughts.
I haven’t noticed that in my reader statistics — averages almost the same every day of the week with a slight dip on the weekends since I don’t have any fresh content then, but I have noticed sharp spikes on some posts, demonstrating that some topics resonate better with old and new readers than others.
In PR, I’ve learned that news pitches/media releases are best received when sent on a Tuesday or Wednesday because reporters are catching up on e-mail on Monday, and start winding the week down on Thursday. Practically nothing is sent out on Friday for that reason.
Thanks, again, for visiting my blog and for your kind words.
Dear Mansi –
I wanted to congratulate you again on being selected by Authentic Blogger as their blogger of the month…it is well deserved.
This is a wonderful post and perfect for anyone just getting started in blogging. I agree 100% with your points. I agree that being true to yourself it very imporant. I, too, am best at conversational writing so I really enjoy reading your blog because you write in a similar “voice”.
Love your blog – love you!
Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea
Thanks, Marie. I have been reading your posts, too. Love the shell imagery and all the art you can create with them.
Thanks for stopping by and hope to keep in touch through Authentic Blogger
Well congratulations.
My two cents – sustainable pace.
It is important to understand or at least try to realize the length of your blog life.
I have seen many instances where people start off with a bang and end with a whimper…
I have seen so many hit writers block and made innumerable come backs…
so the idea is to have a time frame in mind and pace your posts accordingly.
Make no mistake – The consistent delivery of quality posts is inversely proportional to the function of time.
If one quality post per week is what suits your pace,creativity and quality – then so be it.
If it is daily – then so be it. either ways – consistency and sustainment is the key.
It would also not harm to define the objective of your blog – as in why do you write?
– to explore your inner creativity
– to get eyeballs and generate money ?
– to relax or vent out your inner most feelings or opinions.?
Whatever the case may be – the output of this will determine the sustenance and consistency of your post.
Cheers
Gyan Ban
Thanks, Gyan Ban.
You bring up something really important: burnout is a common phenomenon in the blogosphere, but so is consistency.
I started out thinking I wouldn’t blog every day because inspiration doesn’t strike me in 24-hour periods. But then I realized that I needed to do this to keep my writing fresh — to commit to writing something every day that was not related to work, to do it for me. Because the motivation came from within, I’ve been able to keep up with it.
That said, if someone decided to have a daily blog but then feels it’s getting too much to produce quality content every day, they can always choose to pace themselves. Nothing’s set in stone
Thanks, again, for stopping by and for your valuable insights.
Congrats on your AB award! You definitely deserve it!!!
Great blogging tips btw!
Thanks, Anahid. Learning something new every day…and passing it along
Congrats…I am impressed by your writing style and the tips you have shared.It is great help to amateur bloggers like us
Thanks, Ravindra. Appreciate your kind words.
Congrats on the AB award & reaching 100. I’m on my way to 200 soon…hard to believe!! Thanks for all your thoughts on blogging, I enjoy reading everything you write. Keep up the great work.
Hugs,
Bill
Thank you, Bill. I keep repeating myself, but your blog posts truly are an inspiration — they offer a positive perspective on life and every time I read your uplifting posts I am reminded of how much good there is. Thank you for sharing your kindness and outlook with us.
Congrats on touching the 100th mark. I wish you many more such mile stones in blogging.
Thank you S.R. Much appreciated
Thanks for sharing. Very helpful.
Thanks, Sureindran.
just when I thought I should never write again… thank you Mansi. I have great respect for your words, and so, I graciously except the monkey mention.
Good job, Manasi!! KIU.
1. you look so beautiful in this stamp’d pic, well done.
congratulation:)for 100.I visit your blog yesterday.Nice post Thanks for sharing.
Best Regards
Rupam
Thanks for stopping by, Rupam.
I love this post!! In it I find the definition of how and why I blog. Lately I have been a slacker and beginning to think "what do I have to say?" "Does anyone really care what I think?" I realize I need to get back to the roots of my blog. I write for me. I need to try more not to care what people think. If they enjoy my writing, that’s great. If they don’t, and they all can’t, that’s okay, too.
Thanks!
Thanks, Sandy. Glad this served as a reminder
Nice suggestions. I’ve just started focusing attention on my blog over the past two months and look forward to learning from experts like you. My goal is very simple: to radically transform India. I realised that it won’t happen simply by writing books. I must communicate more actively. Hence my blog. Would appreciate your thoughts on it, if have time (http://sabhlokcity.com/).
Regards
Sanjeev Sabhlok
[…] I reached the century mark a couple of months ago, I instituted the Photoblogger of the Month award that was embraced with open […]
Congratulations on touching a century. May more centuries to be notched by you. Tips are great but we cannot produce a awesome post, rants are also as appreciable as appreciations; else it’d not be called as Blogging.